Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and program formats for nursing programs within driving distance of Centerville.
Centerville sits just south of Dayton, a region where healthcare is the largest private-sector employer. Major systems like Premier Health, Kettering Health Network, and the Dayton VA Medical Center drive consistent demand for registered nurses.
Within a 75-mile radius, a commute reachable for many Centerville residents, 29 accredited nursing programs are ranked, spanning community colleges, public universities, and private institutions.
Choosing among them requires weighing more than location: NCLEX pass rates, clinical placement quality, and tuition vary sharply, and several Dayton-area hospitals now expect a BSN for new hires.
These nursing programs serve Centerville and the greater Dayton region, offering a mix of campus-based associate, bachelor’s, and direct-entry master’s pathways. Several schools maintain clinical partnerships with Dayton-area hospitals and community health providers, while others extend opportunities across Ohio’s major healthcare systems. The list includes public and private institutions, with widely varying costs and admission profiles, so students can weigh affordability, program length, and local earning potential side by side.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio Institute of Allied Health | Huber Heights, OH | $47,000/yr | Working LPNs seeking accelerated ADN completion | |
Ohio Institute of Allied Health in Huber Heights offers a rapidly paced ADN built for working LPNs and transfer students who need to earn RN credentials without pausing their careers. The 52-week program draws heavily from Dayton-area employers, with clinical rotations in local long-term care and community settings. Its net price of $47,034 reflects a private career-college model, but the accelerated timeline can offset lost wages for students who already hold healthcare experience.
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| #2 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | LPN-to-RN learners needing flexible class times | |
Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton runs a One-Plus-One AAS in Nursing that lets students sit for the NCLEX-PN after the first 40 weeks and continue for the full 90 weeks to qualify for the NCLEX-RN. The program serves a high percentage of Pell-eligible learners, with a net price of $16,456, and offers day and evening classes to accommodate work schedules. Graduates regularly feed into Dayton-area hospitals and long-term care employers.
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| #3 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH | $30,000/yr | Local students seeking integrated ASN-to-BSN pathway | |
The University of Dayton builds its BSN as a dual-degree partnership with Sinclair Community College, allowing students to earn an associate degree at Sinclair and a BSN from UD in four years, all within the Dayton metro. The program admits about 25 students per year, giving it a small-cohort feel with close faculty mentorship. Its net price of $29,533 and regional clinical placements make it a practical choice for Centerville residents wanting to stay local.
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| #4 | Miami University | Oxford, OH | $18,000 – $41,000/yr | ||
Miami University's BSN program splits time between Oxford and clinical sites in Cincinnati and Dayton, giving Centerville students direct access to major healthcare systems less than an hour away. As an Ohio public university, it charges in-state tuition to eligible residents, with a net price of $28,384. The curriculum emphasizes health promotion and community-based practice, and graduates post a median 10-year earnings of $55,076, competitive for the region.
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| #5 | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $26,000/yr | ||
The University of Cincinnati places its BSN and direct-entry MSN programs inside an Academic Health Center that includes a Level I trauma center and a top-ranked pediatric hospital. Centerville students commute about an hour to access this high-acuity training environment while paying in-state tuition, with a net price of $25,648. Both the traditional and accelerated pathways emphasize interprofessional collaboration and clinical immersion from the early weeks of the curriculum.
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| #6 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | $17,000/yr (net price) | ||
Ohio State University's flagship BSN is consistently ranked among the top public nursing programs nationally, attracting high-performing students from Centerville and across Ohio. Columbus sits about 70 miles from Centerville, but the program’s $17,339 net price for in-state students and median graduate earnings of $60,409 can justify the relocation for those seeking a research-intensive, evidence-based curriculum. Multiple admission pathways, including direct freshman entry, make it accessible to a range of incoming qualifications.
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| #7 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $41,000/yr | ||
Case Western Reserve University delivers a direct-admission BSN in Cleveland, famous for immersing students in over 1,000 clinical hours across renowned health systems like the Cleveland Clinic. Although the sticker price is high, the average net price of $41,190 reflects substantial institutional aid, and graduates see a median 10-year earnings of $87,989, the highest in this list. For Centerville families who can manage the distance, the program offers a strong return on investment.
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| #8 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | $24,000/yr (net price) | ||
Ohio Northern University’s Ada campus may be northwest of Centerville, but its BSN program posts a 92.7% NCLEX pass rate and a 100% job placement rate within six months, metrics that draw applicants from across the state. The private university’s net price of $24,478 is competitive after institutional scholarships, and small class sizes pair with 810 clinical hours across multiple settings. A median graduate debt of $27,000 is offset by early career earnings that often exceed $80,000.
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| #9 | Mercy College of Ohio | Toledo, OH | $18,000/yr (net price) | ||
Mercy College of Ohio in Toledo offers a BSN prelicensure program and an evening-weekend associate degree, both tied to the Mercy Health system. While Toledo is a significant drive for Centerville families, the college’s net price of $17,989 is among the lowest for a private nursing program on this list, and the BSN track includes paid clinical hours in the final semester. Graduates can tap into Mercy Health employment opportunities statewide after licensure.
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| #10 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | ||
ETI Technical College in Niles, near Youngstown, runs a five-semester ADN that admits students three times per year and prepares them for the NCLEX-RN. The net price of $13,665 is the lowest on this list, reflecting a career-college model that serves high numbers of Pell-eligible learners. While it’s the farthest from Centerville, the program’s solid retention and graduation rates make it a budget-friendly option for students willing to relocate within Ohio.
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This side-by-side cost comparison shows both published tuition and the average net price after grants and scholarships for nursing schools accessible from Centerville. Public community colleges such as Sinclair and North Central State offer the lowest sticker prices, while private colleges like Mount Carmel and Ursuline can reduce their list price by $17,000 or more after aid. Remember that net price is an institution-wide average and actual nursing program costs may be higher due to clinical fees and supplies.
| School | Type | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central State College | Public | $5,786 | $11,374 | $4,687 |
| Sinclair Community College | Public | $4,809 | $8,556 | $5,992 |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Public | $5,256 | $8,016 | $9,948 |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Private | $27,600 | $27,600 | $10,420 |
| Northwest State Community College | Public | $4,698 | $9,170 | $13,555 |
| ETI Technical College | Private | $11,060 | $11,060 | $13,665 |
| Ursuline College | Private | $38,990 | $38,990 | $16,164 |
| Ohio Medical Career College | Private | N/A | N/A | $16,456 |
| University of Toledo | Public | $12,157 | $21,517 | $17,249 |
| Ohio State University | Public | $13,244 | $40,022 | $17,339 |
How do NCLEX-RN pass rates compare among nursing programs near Centerville, and why should they matter to you? Pass rates are a direct measure of how well a school prepares students for the licensing exam, and by extension, for entry-level nursing practice. A consistently strong rate signals a curriculum that aligns with current testing standards, effective clinical training, and robust faculty support. Because the exam is the final gatekeeper before you can practice, these numbers deserve a close look, but they should be weighed alongside other factors like program cost, clinical placements, and your personal learning style.
A high first-time pass rate often reflects more than just test-prep. It points to a program where coursework is rigorous, clinical rotations are thoughtfully sequenced, and students receive meaningful remediation when they struggle. Programs that invest in simulation labs, NCLEX-style question banks, and dedicated academic coaches tend to see stronger outcomes. At the same time, no single year’s rate tells the whole story. A small cohort can produce large swings, and even highly regarded programs occasionally see dips. Look for steadiness over three to five years, not just a single flashy number.
For context, the most recent data from the Ohio Board of Nursing (2026 Q1) shows that bachelor’s degree (BSN) programs statewide posted first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates ranging from 83% to 87%. Nationally, the NCSBN reports a similar band of 82% to 88% for the same period. These aggregates give you a baseline: a program consistently landing below state or national levels warrants a conversation with admissions staff about how they are addressing readiness.
Many reputable BSN programs within the Dayton metro, including institutions like Wright State University, University of Dayton, Cedarville University, Kettering College, and Mount St. Joseph University, have historically reported pass rates at or above state benchmarks. Because individual school rates are updated annually by the Ohio Board of Nursing, the most prudent step is to look up each program’s latest filing directly. A school that hovers in the high 80s or low 90s over several years is generally a safe bet, but verifying current figures protects you from assuming yesterday’s performance applies today.
All Ohio nursing program pass rates are public and can be accessed through the Ohio Board of Nursing’s education portal. When you review them, note the reporting year and whether the data reflects first-time test-takers only or all candidates. Pay attention to how many students sat for the exam, small graduating classes can make percentages look dramatically better or worse. If a program’s recent pass rate isn’t published, ask the admissions office directly; their willingness to share and explain it is itself a useful signal.
Some nursing programs piece together clinical rotations across a patchwork of smaller community sites; others build their entire curriculum around dedicated, multi-year partnerships with major regional health systems. For students near Centerville, the latter model dominates, with three large networks anchoring clinical education: Kettering Health, Premier Health (including Miami Valley Hospital), and the Dayton VA Medical Center.
Kettering Health’s flagship, Kettering Medical Center, is about 5 miles from Centerville. It hosts Dedicated Education Units for Kettering College BSN students, who are paired with a nurse preceptor on a single unit for an immersive semester. Miami Valley Hospital, part of Premier Health, is roughly 12 miles from Centerville and serves as a primary teaching site for BSN programs at Wright State University and the University of Dayton. The Dayton VA Medical Center offers additional rotations focused on veteran care.
Dedicated education units and precepted rotations guarantee clinical placement slots, eliminating the anxiety of finding hours. Students often rotate on the same floors where they may later apply for externships or new-graduate residencies, creating a direct pipeline to employment. Kettering Health’s 2026 Nursing Externship, for example, is a 10-week, 300-hour paid program for BSN students, running May 13 through August 1. Its 12-month New Graduate Nurse Residency hires RNs with less than a year of acute care experience into specialties like critical care, emergency/trauma, and NICU. An international bridge program also helps internationally trained nurses transition into U.S. practice.
Beyond core medical-surgical floors, these partnerships open doors to specialty clinicals. Students can encounter pediatric acute care at Dayton Children’s, high-acuity trauma at Miami Valley’s Level I center, and the distinct complexities of veteran health at the Dayton VA. Such early exposure often shapes career interests and strengthens residency applications. Because many of these rotations occur within the same health system that offers hiring pathways, a strong clinical performance can directly lead to a job offer well before graduation.
Moving from an associate-degree nursing program (ADN) to a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) often relies on formal articulation agreements that spell out exactly which credits transfer and how you can transition seamlessly. Near Centerville, Sinclair Community College’s ADN serves as a launching point for several four-year programs, though not all local universities have published agreements.
Sinclair maintains an active articulation agreement with the University of Cincinnati’s online RN-to-BSN program through July 2026, guaranteeing that its 65-credit AAS in nursing satisfies core requirements. For other Dayton-area institutions, published articulation agreements are less common: Wright State University and the University of Dayton currently do not list specific pathway documents, but the Ohio Transfer 36 module ensures that a general education block of 36 credits moves smoothly to any Ohio public university, including Wright State.
None of the described pathways guarantee admission; each school applies its own minimum GPA threshold (for UC, 2.5). However, credits covered by an articulation agreement are fully accepted, reducing the total BSN completion time. Sinclair also offers its own on-campus RN-to-BSN program, providing an internal transfer route for graduates who prefer to stay close to home.
Direct LPN-to-BSN bridge programs are rare in the Dayton area. Licensed practical nurses seeking a BSN may need to complete an ADN first (Sinclair’s LPN-to-RN transition is available) and then move into an RN-to-BSN pathway. Some online RN-to-BSN programs accept LPNs with a period of RN licensure and additional general education courses, but no guaranteed local bridge exists.
Most RN-to-BSN programs, including UC’s 7-week course format and Sinclair’s own online option, are delivered entirely or primarily online. This flexibility eliminates commuting concerns and allows working nurses to balance employment with coursework, a key advantage for Centerville-area nurses who might otherwise face long drives to campus.
What salary can you expect after earning a BSN, and how long will it take to cover your education costs? Your payoff depends on local wages, program tuition, and the debt you carry.
Program-specific earnings for recent graduates, such as median pay one year out, are not yet available for most nursing schools near Centerville. However, long-term federal earnings data for nursing schools in Ohio offers a rough guide. These figures reflect median annual earnings for students who entered the institution, measured several years after entry, and include graduates who may work across the state or elsewhere.
While these campuses are not all in the immediate Dayton area, the numbers highlight how low debt amplifies return on investment, especially for associate-degree pathways that lead to RN licensure.
For occupational context, registered nurses in the Dayton-Springfield-Kettering metropolitan area earn a median annual wage of $82,000, with a mean around $96,550 (2026).2 Statewide, the Ohio median for RNs is $79,940, with the top 10% earning over $105,000.1 Local pay therefore tracks slightly above the state median, making Centerville a solid market for new graduates.
Comparing debt to local wages shows why sticker price matters. A student graduating with $8,000, $12,000 in loan debt, common among community college and some public BSN programs, finds themselves facing a debt-to-income ratio of about 0.1 to 0.15, assuming an $82,000 salary. That means a disciplined budget could zero out loans in under two years. Even a higher debt load around $22,000, like Mount Carmel's BSN, represents just a quarter of annual local pay, still manageable within a typical three-to-five-year payback window.
The key takeaway: choosing a program with moderate tuition and strong NCLEX outcomes preserves more of your future paycheck. In the Dayton market, the numbers work in your favor even if you need to stretch for a higher-cost school, but the quickest return comes from minimizing debt while connecting to local healthcare employers.
Choosing among nursing schools near Centerville requires weighing program length, cost, and clinical opportunities. Below, we answer common questions to help you compare your options and find the right fit.
